The dedication of the Levites to service consists of two elements: a purifying rite connected with washings, and the dedication itself, accompanied by sacrifices, one of which...
The dedication of the Levites to service consists of two elements: a purifying rite connected with washings, and the dedication itself, accompanied by sacrifices. One of them is purifying, completing the process of purification, while the second is already the dedication to service itself. This sequence is entirely understandable if we remember the main meaning of the priestly community's existence as such. That meaning is that among God's people at every moment there must be a certain number of people who are permanently sanctified and therefore permanently remain at the altar, in God's presence, where alone sanctification is possible.
That is precisely why priests were forbidden to leave the court of the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, during the entire time of their service, and why they were prescribed stricter rules of ritual purity. The court of the Tabernacle, like the Temple court, was sacred space. There God's presence was revealed to a person, and the person naturally had to be purified before entering that space, especially for a long time. It would seem: why are additional purifications needed when the Torah already describes in sufficient detail all the cases when purification is necessary?
For us, living in the era of the approaching Kingdom, when death is already far from all-powerful, it is hard to imagine the situation of the pre-Christian world. In those days evil and death reigned over the world absolutely. Death was the last reality, and defilement in all its forms was a manifestation of their power. Death and evil were overcome only by God and only where He was present. Before the coming of Christ, He Himself chose the places of His presence and Himself marked them with the radiance that many saw over the Tabernacle and in the Holy of Holies of the Temple.
When a person found himself in the court of the Tabernacle or the Temple, he passed for a time from the kingdom of death into the kingdom of life, and then returned back again. There, at the altar, was then the only place on earth where death retreated before life. It is no surprise that living there, in this kingdom of life, was a task at least far from simple for a person accustomed to the kingdom of death. That is why, understanding the whole difficulty of the task, the ministers of the altar strove for special purity, so as not to defile the life with which they came into contact.
8 Directions concerning the lamps, Num 8:1-4.
Concerning cleansing the Levites, Num 8:5-8.
Concerning the presenting them to God, Num 8:9-22.
Concerning their age and service, Num 8:23-26.
8:2 When thou lightest the lamps - The priests lighted the middle lamp from the fire of the altar; and the rest one from another; signifying that all light and knowledge comes from Christ, who has the seven spirits of God, figured by the seven lamps of fire. Over against the candlestick - On that part which is before the candlestick, Heb. over against the face of the candlestick - That is, in that place towards which the candlestick looked, or where the candlestick stood in full view, that is, upon the north - side, where the table of shew - bread stood, as appears from hence, because the candlestick stood close to the boards of the sanctuary on the south - side, Exo 26:35. And thus the lights were on both sides of the sanctuary, which was necessary, because it was dark in itself, and had no window.
8:4 Of beaten gold - Not hollow, but solid gold, beaten out of one piece, not of several pieces joined or soldered together.
8:7 Of purifying - Heb. of sin, that is, for the expiation of sin.This water was mixed with the ashes of a red heifer, Num 19:9, which therefore may seem to have been prescribed before, though it be mentioned after; such kind of transplacings of passages being frequent in scripture.Shave all their flesh - This external rite signified the cutting off their inordinate desire of earthly things and that singular purity of heart and life which is required in the ministers of God.
8:8 A young bullock - The same sacrifice which was offered for a sin - offering for the whole congregation, because the Levites came in the stead of all the first - born, who did in a manner represent the whole congregation.
8:10 The children of Israel - Not all of them, which was impossible, but some in the name of all the princes or chiefs of each tribe, who used to transact things in the name of their tribes. Put their hands - Whereby they signified their transferring that right of ministering to God from the first - born in whose hands it formerly was, to the Levites, and their entire resignation and dedication of them to God's service.
8:11 For an offering - Heb. for a wave - offering. Not that Aaron did so wave them, which he could not do, but that he caused them to imitate that motion, and to wave themselves toward the several parts of the world: whereby they might signify their readiness to serve God, according to their capacity wheresoever they should be.
8:12 Lay their hands - To signify that they were offered by them and for them.
8:13 Set the Levites before Aaron - Give the Levites to them, or to their service. Unto the Lord - For to him they were first properly offered, and by him given to the priests in order to his service.
8:15 Go in - Into the court, where they were to wait upon the priests at the altar of burnt - offering; and, at present, into the tabernacle, to take it down and set it up.
8:19 To do the service of Israel - To serve God in their stead, to do what otherwise they had been obliged to do in their own persons.To make an atonement - Not by offering sacrifices, which the priests alone might do, but by assisting the priests in that expiatory work, and by a diligent performance of all the parts of their office, whereby God was pleased both with them and with the people.That there be no plague - This is added as a reason why God appointed them to serve in the tabernacle, that they might guard it, and not suffer any of the people to come near it, or meddle with holy things, which if they did, it would certainly bring a plague upon them.